Storage and mixing cartridge



Jan. 5, 1965 H. L. TRAUTMANN 9 9 STORAGE AND MIXING CARTRIDGE Filed Dec.4, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VE N TOR. #525501 fiqz/r/w/z/n/ BY w H. L.TRAUTMANN 3,164,303

STORAGE AND MIXING CARTRIDGE Jan. 5, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 4,1961 24-5 INVENTOR.

$525527! [EM MAW United States Patent Ofiiice 3,154,303 Patented Jan. 5,1965 3,164,303 STORAGE AND MiXlNG CARTRIDGE Herbert L. Trautmann, SanMarino, Califi, assignor to Semco Research, Inc., Inglewood, Calif., acorporation of California Filed Dec. 4, 1961, Ser. No. 156,898 16Claims. ((31. 222-190) This invention relates to a container for aplurality of ingredients which must be stored separately until shortlyprior to the time of use, then adequately intermixed, and finallydispensed for use in filling, potting, sealing, cementing or otherpurposes. The container of this invention is so constructed that itprovides separate compartments for storage of the ingredients and, byadjustment, can then be used as a mixing and a dispensing container.

Many of the most desirable and effective modern day sealants, cementsand similar materials are of the cata lytic setting type; that is, theyare composed of a base 'material, such as a resin, and a catalyst oraccelerator which undergo no change during separate storage but whichcommence a chemical reaction when mixed, which results in setting up inpermanent final form in a relatively short period of time, usually fromthirty minutes to two hours. One of the highly desirable features ofsuch materials is that they contain no solvent to dry out andconsequently they do not shrink or change form while setting.

In the past, most materials of this type have been stored in separatebags, cans, or other types of containers and poured into some additionallarger container, being mixed with a spatula or the like. The mixturemust then be poured into a dispenser for use. Such arrangements areclumsy and time consuming and, since the mixing is done in the open air,the operation usually results in the incorporation of many small andlarge air bubbles in the mixture which is particularly undesirable inthe case of asealant.

The difiiculties mentioned above have been largely,

overcome in the mixing cartridge disclosed in the patent application ofRalph J. Cook, Serial No. 828,118, filed July 20, 1959, now abandoned.The device there disclosed includes a shell having a dasherandadiaphragm therein, the latter dividing the shell into storagecompartments for two ingredients, with means to dislodge the diaphragmwhen desired to allow the ingredients to inter-.

mix. An end wall or plug closes one end of the shell and an actuatingrod for thedasher extends through and closes the dispensing outletopening. After the ingred-' ients are mixed, the dasher rod is removedand the shell or cartridge is ordinarily placed in a power operated gunof the type disclosed in the Detrie Patent No. 2,838,210 in order todispense the contents.

While the device described is eminently satisfactory for its purpose itis rather expensive to make and its use is generally limited to largersizes such as used in commer cial and industrial work. There is atpresent a great need and a widespread demand for a very small containerwhich will store the ingredients separately, mix them adequately and beoperable manually with self contained means to dispense the contents.-Such a device is pri-1 ingredient is then introduced through end of theshell is closed by a generally cylindrical plug to form a container. Forthe purpose of dividing the container into two compartments at. opposingends a gen erally cylindrical or disk-like partition is provided. Thepartition has sealing contact with the Wall of the container and isformed with a central axial passage. This passage is threaded in partand has a substantially cylindrical sealing seat in part.

A dasher is located in the compartment adjacent the dispensing end andextends across at least the major part of the span of the container. Itmay contact the wall but preferably is of slightly smaller diameter. Aplurality of axially extending holes are formed adjacent the periph crybut any other formation which will accomplish adequate mixing may besubstituted. A slender elongate handle extends from the dasher on thelongitudinal axis of the container, passes freely through the passage inthe partition and has a sliding fit in a bearing hole in the end wall. Acentrally located boss on the dasher confronts the partition and has agenerally cylindrical or slightly tapered section to sealingly engagethe seat in the partition and a threaded section to engage the threadedportion of the partition passage.

When the dasher and partition are screwed firmly together the partitionbecomes efllectively imperforate and combined members'now serve as apiston or plunger and I the handle is moved forwardly to extrude themixture through the nozzle.

Several methods of filling thecompartmentsare available. nozzle dippedin the ingredient, and the plunger retracted to. the desired extent. Ifthe ingredient isof low enough viscosity it may be forced in through thenozzle in the;

manner. of a lubricating operation pushing the plunger" back until thedesired amount of ingredient is in the compartment. In either event, airis excluded. Afterthe forward compartment is filled, the rearcompartment may be filled by pouring, after which the end wall plug isinserted. A small passage is provided in the end wall to allow theescape of air audit is later plugged with a pellet. In some casesthe'end wall is inserted first and the second the small passage with anozzle type instrument.

A slender, elongate, pin-like element is inserted in and v fills thenozzle passage duringistorage to prevent the ac- Y cess of air andduring mixingtokeep the nozzle free of the ingredient so that all of thematerial will be thoroughly; mixed. The end wall seals off air from theother ingredient and moves'axially to a slight extent to breathe? andaccommodate the presence of differing amounts of the handle inthejcontainerduring mixing.

1 invention;

Various other advantages and features of novelty will become apparent asthe description proceeds in connection with the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, illustrating thepresently preferred embodiment of the FIGURE 2 is a longitudinalsectional view through a part of the apparatus showing the partition inimperforate sealing condition;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 showing the dasher separatedfromthe partition;

The plunger may be pushed to ,the domed end, the

' the nozzle or dispensing outlet.

of the bore is provided with a thread 40.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the dasher;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 showing the dasher ready to bere-engaged with the partition;

FIGURE 6 is a longitudinal sectional View showing a modified form ofdasher and partition; and

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 showing anothermoditled form ofdasher and partition.

Turning now to FIGURE 1, it will be seen that the device consistsgenerally of a shell ill in the form of a cylinder having a domed end12, which end is completed by a tapered nozzle 14 having a slenderelongate passage 16 which is preferably cylindrical or slightly tapered.The opposite end 18 of the shell is closed by a plug or end wall 20. Apair of opposed ears 22 are provided to serve as finger grips, primarilyin the dispensing operation.

' Means 24 are provided to divide the shell or container into twoopposed compartments 25 and 27 for storing the ingredients prior tomixing and to serve ultimately as a piston or plunger to extrude theingredients through Means 24 comprises a partition 26 anda dasher 28,the latter having a slender elongate handle 3i extending rearwardly andterminating in recurved grip section 32. The forward end of the handlehas an enlarged flattened end 33 to insure anchorage in the dasher. Theshell 19, end wall 24), and partition 26 are made of a suitable plasticmaterial such as polyethylene, while the dasher and handle arepreferably metal.

, As can be best seen in FIGURE 2, the partition 26 is, generallycylindrical or disk-like in form and is provided with a plurality ofannular labyrinthtype sealing lips 34, which tightly contact the innerwall of the shell to constitutea' seal. The partition is also providedwith a central passage or'bore 36. The portion of the bore confrontingthe dasher is in the form of an annular recess or seat 38 which may becylindrical or slightly tapered, diverging toward the dasher. Theopposite end :The dasher .28. has a domed forward face 42 whichsubstantially matches. the shape of the end of the cylinder. In mixing,this insures that all of the material will intermingle properly. Indispensing, it insures that all of the mixture will be forced out foruse except the small amount remaining in the dasher holes 44. The 'sizeof the dasher itself may vary with the character of the ingredientsbeing mixed. If the ingredients are rela- "Lively/thin it is preferableto leave a clearance between the dasher and the wall for easierreciprocation. Howing the handle and comprising a first portion 48 whichis generally annular in shape and may be cylindrical or V convergingslightly outwardly, and a second portion 54 bearing a thread whichmatches thread 40 in the partition. When the partition is in theposition of FIGURE 1 intermediate' the ends of the cylinder it must beeffectively 'im-perforate to constitute a substantiallyperfect sealbetween theing'redientsin' compartments 25 and 27. As seen in FIGURE 2,this is accomplished by securing the dasher and partition tightlytogether. through themedium of the threaded portionsdtl and 50. Part 48of the boss is forced into part SS in the partition to completely sealthe passage 36,.and the sealing lips 34 tightly contactthe wall of thecylinder. During storage this, seal may be 'furtherinsurcd by tightlywrapping the flexible :shelll0 with adhesive tape at the locus of thepartition.

When it is desired to mix the two ingredients the handle is actuatedto'unserew the dasher from the partition to the position shown in FIGURE3. It will be seen that at this time the plug edits entirely removedfrom seat 38 to provide a .flow path through the partition.

The handle can now be pulled rearwardly tomove the dasher and partitionto the position of FIGURE 5. Since the partition is flexible, threads4t? have a tendency to snap over threads 5% and decrease the flow pathto practically zero. In order to offset such action threaded part 5% isprovided with a pair of opposed flats 52 as shown in FlGURE 4. With thisconstruction there is always a flow path through the threads. Obviouslythreads at, could be mutilated instead or small passages could be formedadjacent to the threads. it will be noted in FIGURE 3 that handle 36'has a substantial clearance in passage 36.

With the parts in the position shown in FIGURE 5, compartments Z5 and 27have been merged and the dasher may be reciprocated throughout thelength of the single compartment to thoroughly the two ingredients.Since the partition has a rather tight fit in the shell it will remainat the rear end out of the Way during the operation. As the length ofthe handle moves into and out or" the compartment, the volume mustchange slightly. This is taken care of by the fact that end wall 213together with the partition, move axially a slight distance. After themixing completed the dasher is returned to the position of FIGURE 5 andthe handle is rotated to re-engage the parts sealingly to constitute apiston or plunger. To prevent any possible rotation of the partitionduring engagement or disengagement the shell may be gripped externallyto immobilize the partition. The handle may now be moved forwardly,forcing the piston down the length of the shell and extruding thecontents through the dispensing outlet 16. Bars 22 may be engaged by theoperators fingers at this time to assist in moving the handle.

The forward compartment 25 is normally filled first and usually containsthe catalyst or accelerator. In one method of filling, the plunger orpiston comprising the dasher and partition sealingly engaged is movedfully forward and nozzle id is dipped into a container of the desiredingredient. The plunger is now pulled rearwardly by the handle and theingredient is drawn in by suction. The operation is stopped when apredetermined amount of ingredient has been deposited in thecompartment. In an alternative method, the plunger is moved fullyforward and the ingredient is forced into the nozzle by a devicesubstantially identical to a lubricating grease gun. Entrance of theingredient will of course force the plunger rearwardly, and again theoperation is stopped when the desired amount of ingredient has beeninserted.

It is desirable to exclude air from the ingredient during storage and toexclude the ingredient from the nozzle passage 16 during mixing so thatthere will be no unmixed ingredient requiring bleeding off before theproper mixture is dispensed. To take care of this problem a sealingmember is provided in the form of a slender elongate rod or pin 54 whichis a press or push fit in passage 16 and is just long enough tocompletely fill the passage. The rod or pin is united at its forward endto a conical cap 56 which fits snugly over nozzle E4. The nozzle isprovided with a head 58 and the cap has a cooperating annular groove orrecess 6 9 to yieldingly retain the cap in place. The cap and sealingelement are of course removed for dispensing.

The proper amount of base material may be poured into compartment 27 andplug 2d then inserted in end 13 of the shell to a point eliminating anyair space above the material. Since the plug or end wall 239 has sealingcontact with the rod and the shell Wall, means are provided to allowescape of air during insertion. The means take the form of an axiallydirected passage 62 through the end wall. The passage may benon-circular as shown for a purpose to be described or it may becylindrical. In either event a spherical enlargement d4 is formedintermediate the ends and serves as a for the sealing member as whichmay be a pellet of metal or plastic.

sea

Another method of filling is to insert the end wall in place and theninsert a filling nozzle in passage 62, forcing material in until thecompartment is full. A cylindrical or conical nozzle is used, providingair spaces between itself and the corners of the non-circular passage.Filling is continued until all of the air has exited and the materialappears at the outlet of the passage. The nozzle is now removed and seal66 is inserted.

It will be seen that the present invention provides a novel selfcontained device which initially stores ingredien-ts completelyseparately as long as desired, and which can then be adjusted to serveas a practical mixing device without opening it or in any way exposingthe contents to air which would undesirably mix with the contents. Byanother adjustment and still without opening it except for removal ofthe nozzle cap, it becomes a practical dispenser.

The specific construction of the dasher and partition may be modified asshown in FIGURE 6 where the dasher 128 is provided with a recess 148 anda threaded bore 150. The partition 126 has a boss or protuberance 138and a threaded extension 146. The partition has an axially extendingopening 136 substantially larger than the handle 130 and the extensionis pierced by a'plurality of generally radially extending holes 141 toform flow paths. 143 seats in recess 138, thus sealing off holes orports 141 and making the partition substantially imperforate. When theyare readjusted to the position shown, the partition may be moved to theend of shell and mixing may proceed as previously described.

Another modification is illustrated in FIGURE 7 where dasher 228 isprovided with an annular bead 248 on its confronting face and also bearsa centrally located boss 25% surrounding handle 239 and bearingmutilated threads 251 of the type shown in FIGURE 4 at St and 52. Thepartition 226- has a bore 23a substantially larger than handle 23% andthreaded at 240 to engage with threaded boss 25%. With the parts asshown the partition is completely sealed by engagement of the annularbead 248 with the planar face 227 of the partition. When the parts areseparated by rotation of the handle, the material will flow between thethreaded portions and between the separated faces of the dasher andpartition and they may now be moved to the rearward end of the shell.The mixing and dispensing operations are as previously described.

Various changes and modifications may be made in the specificconstruction of parts of the invention as disclosed herein withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention and it is intended that allsuch changes and modifications shall be embraced with the scope of thefollowing claims.

I claim: V

l. A dual compartment container for separately storing two ingredients,subsequently intermixing them, and later dispensing the mixture,comprising: an elongate cylindrical shell to contain the two ingredientsand having a normally closed dispensing outlet at one of its ends;

When the parts are tightly secured together boss g and having a centralaxially extending flow passagetherev and end wall closing the other endof the shell and.

cooperating with the shell to form a container; a partition extendinggenerally diametrically. across the entire span of said shell at anintermedite point in the length of the latter to divide it into twocompartments at opposing ends of said shell to store said twoingredients separately;

-end; anda central boss on' said dasher surrounding said handle andconfronting said partition; said boss having an annular portion toengage the annular portion of said bore to completely seal saidpartition and having a threaded portion to engage the threaded portionof said bore to secure said partition and said dasher together insealing relation for storage purposes.

2. A construction as claimed in claim 1, said dasher being rotatable tounseat the annular part of said boss from the annular part of the borein said partition, said dasher further being axially movable toward saidend wall to urge said partition to an inoperative position adjacent tosaid end wall.

3. A construction as claimed in claim 2 in which one of the sets ofthreads is mutilated to provide a flow path for one of said ingredientsthrough said partition to permit it to be moved to said inoperativeposition.

4. A construction as claimed in claim 1, the wall of said shell beingflexible whereby it may be gripped externally to immobilize saidpartition while the dasher is being manipulated to engage and disengagethe partition.

5. A construction as claimed in claim 2, said dasher being reengageablein sealing relation with said partition adjacent the end wall after themixing operation; said handle being operable to force said joinedpartition and dasher toward said outlet to extrude the mixed ingredientsextending generally diametrically across the entire span of said shellat an intermediate point in the length of the latter to divide it intotwo compartments at opposing v ends of said shell to store said twoingredients separately;

said partition having a sealing edge in contact with the.

cylindrical inner wall of said shell around its periphery through; adasher extending across at least a major porof the span of'said shelland having an elongate handle passing freely through the flow passage inthe partition and extending slidably through said end wall; said passagebeing enough larger than said'handle to allow free flow of ingredientsfrom one side of said partition to the other; and a central boss on saiddasher surrounding said handle and confronting said partition and beingof a said end wall and leave said partition in inoperative positionadjacent to said end wall; whereby substantially the entire interior'ofsaid shell is converted into a single compartment containing both ofsaid ingredients and said dasher may be reciprocated throughout thelength thereof to mix the contents.

7. A construction as claimed in claim 6, said dispensing outlet being inthe form of an elongate nozzle having an axial passage therethrough; anda removable sealing element extending through said passage to excludeair from the ingredient adjacent to the nozzle during storage and toexclude the'ingredient from the passage during mixing.

8. A construction as claimed in claim 6, said end wall being axiallymovable to accommodate changes in volume resulting from the presence ofvarying lengths of said handle in the mixing compartment during themixing operation.

9. A construction as claimed in claim 6, said end wall being axiallymovable into the end of said shell to close same after filling; anopening through said wall to permit escapeof air during insertion; and aplug to close said opening and exclude air from the adjacent ingredientduring storage.

. mixing.

10. A construction as claimed in claim 9, said end Wall opening beingenlarged intermediate its ends and said plug being in the form of asubstantially spherical pellet sized to be seated securely in theenlarged portion of said opening.

11. A dual compartment container for separately storing two ingredients,subsequently intermixing them, and later dispensing the mixture,comprising: an elongate cylindrical shell to'contain the two ingredientsand having a normally closed dispensing outlet at one of its ends; anend Wall closing the other end of the shell and cooperating with thesheil to form a container; a partition extending generally diametricallyacross the entire span of said shell at an intermediate'point in thelength of the latterto divide it into two compartments at opposing endsof said shell to store said two ingredients separately; said partitionhaving a sealing edge in contact with the cylindrical inner Wall-of saidshell around its periphery and having a central axially extending flowpassage therethrough; a dasher extending across at least a major portionof the span of said shell and having an elongate handle passing freelythrough the flow passage in the partition and extendingslidably throughsaid end wall; said passage being enough larger than said handle toallow free flow of ingredients from one side of said partition to theother; interengaging means on said partition and said dasher to seal theflow passage in said partition and make it eliectively imperforate; andmeans operable by movement of said handle to engage the dasher tightlywith the partition and to urge said sealing means into interengagemeritto seal said compartments from each other for storage purposes andoperable by opposite movement of said handle to disengage said dasherand partition and said sealing means to permit flow through the flowpassage in said partition; said handle being movable axially when saidparts are disengaged to move said dasher and partition toward said endwall to store said partition adjacent thereto and convertsub-stantiallythe entire interior of said shell into a single compartment for mixingof said ingredients bysaid dasher; said dasher beingsealingly're-engageable with said partition adjacent said end wall tosubsequently serve as a piston for extruding the mixed.ingredientsthrough said dispensing outlet.

12. A construction as claimed in claim ll, said interengagingsealingmeans comprising a protuberance and from the ingredient adjacentto the nozzle during storage and to exclude the ingredient from thepassage during 14; A construction as claimed in claim ll, said meansoperable by movement of the handle to engage the dasher With thepartition comprising threaded portions on said dasher and partition.

15. A construction as claimed in claim ll, said end wall having anon-circular opening formed therethrough to receive a filling instrumenthaving an external surface of circular cross-sectional shape; and a plugto seal said opening for storage purposes.

16. A dual compartment container for separately storing two ingredients,subsequently intermixing them, and later dispensing the mixture,comprising: an elongate cylindrical shell to contain the two ingredientsand having a scalable dispensing outlet at one of its ends; and end Wallclosing the other end or" the shell and cooperating with the shell toform a container; a partition extending across the span of said shell atan intermediate point in the length of the latter to divide it into twocompartments at opposing ends of said shell to store said twoingredients separately; said partition having an annular margin inslidable sealing contact with the cylindrical inner wall of said shell;a flow passage extending through said partition from one of saidcompartments to the other for free flow of either of said ingredientstherethrough; a dasher extending laterally of said shell between saidpartition and said dispensing outlet and having an elongate handlepassing through said partition and said end Wall; interengaging means onsaid partition and said dasher to seal the flow passage in saidpartition to make it effectively imperforate and prevent mixing of saidingredients until desired; said dasher handle being movable to make andbreak said sealing interengagement; said handle being movable axiallywhen said parts are disengaged to move said dasher rearwardly towardsaid end wall; said dasher pushing said partition toward said end wallto convert substantially the entire interior of said shell into a singlecompartment for mixing of said ingredients by repeated axial movementsof said dasher; and said dasher being sealingly re-engageahle With saidpartition adjacent said end Wall to subsequently cooperate therewith asa piston for extruding the mixed ingredients through said dispensingoutlet.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,166,437 Howie July 18, 1939 2,841,145 Eppe July l, 1958 2,954,144 ElamSept. 27, 1960 3,028,052 Archer Apr. 3, 1962 3,140,078 Krahe et al July7, 1964 FOREIGN PATENTS 32,420 Denmark Oct. 22, 1923 460,039 France Nov.21, 1913 933,444 France Apr. 20, 1948 370,788 Germany Mar. 7, I923

1. A DUAL COMPARTMENT CONTAINER FOR SEPARATELY STORING TWO INGREDIENTS,SUBSEQUENTLY INTERMIXING THEM, AND LATER DISPENSING THE MIXTURE,COMPRISING: AN ELONGATE CYLINDRICAL SHELL TO CONTAIN THE TWO INGREDIENTSAND HAVING A NORMALLY CLOSED DISPENSING OUTLET AT ONE OF ITS ENDS; ANDEND WALL CLOSING THE OTHER END F THE SHELL AND COOPERATING WITH THESHELL TO FORM A CONTAINER; A PARTITION EXTENDING GENERALLY DIAMETRICALLYACROSS THE ENTIRE SPAN OF SAID SHELL AT AN INTERMEDIATE POINT IN THELENGTH OF THE LATTER TO DIVIDE ITO INTO TWO COMPARTMENTS AT OPPOSINGENDS OF SAID SHELL TO STORE SAID TWO INGREDIENTS SEPARATELY; SAIDPARTITION HAVING A SEALING EDGE IN CONTACT WITH THE CYLINDRICAL INNERWALL OF SAID SHELL AROUND ITS PERIPHERY AND HAVING A CENTRAL AXIALLYEXTENDING BORE THERETHROUGH; A DASHER EXTENDING ACROSS AT LEAST A MAJORPORTION OF THE SPAN OF SAID SHELL AND HAVING AN ELONGATE HANDLE PASSINGFREELY THROUGH THE BORE IN THE PARTITION AND EXTENDING SLIDABLY THROUGHSAID END WALL; THE BORE IN SAID PARTITION HAVING A SMOOTH ANNULAR WITHIN THE END THEREOF CONFRONTING THE DASHER AND HAVING A THREAD FORMED INITS REMOTE END; AND A CENTRAL BOSS ON SAID DASHER SURROUNDING SAIDHANDLE AND CONFRONTING SAID PARTITION; SAID BOSS HAVING AN ANNULARPORTION TO ENGAGE THE ANNULAR PORTION OF SAID BORE TO COMPLETELY SEALSAID PARTITION AND HAVING A THEREDED PORITION OF ENGAGE THE THREADEDPORTION OF SAID BORE TO SECURED SAID PARTITION AND SAID DASHER TOGETHERIN SEALING RELATION FOR STORAGE PURPOSES.